If you’re looking for something extra from your life like an exciting, challenging and rewarding experience in your spare time, then the Army Reserve could be for you. The Army Reserve offers the best of both worlds to those who want to experience Army life but do not wish to make a full time commitment.

Nationwide, the Army Reserve is targeted to be a third of the size of the British Army by 2020 and now routinely works side-by-side with the Regulars. The Army Reserve has been significantly involved with defensive, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Iraq.

Through your Army Reserve training and regular exercises you will learn a range of valuable skills which can benefit you in your civilian life; your personal fitness will improve and you’ll meet a like-minded but diverse group of people. There will also be plenty of opportunity for overseas travel, and a wide and exciting variety of both adventure training and sport.

What Army Reserve units are there in Wales?
There are 25 Army Reserve units offering a huge variety of activities and trades including:

Royal Artillery

Royal Engineers

Royal Signals

Infantry

Special Forces

Royal Logistic Corps

Royal Army Medical Corps (including parachute trained combat medics)

Adjutant General Corps

Intelligence Corps

Corps of Army Music

Who can join?
Men and women wishing to join the Army Reserves need to be aged between 18 and 43 years old but in certain circumstances the upper age limit can be higher. You must also be a citizen of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland and should normally have lived in the UK for at least five years.

What is the commitment?
Most units train one evening a week – usually a Tuesday or Wednesday, plus one weekend a month and there is normally a 2-week camp, frequently abroad. Once trained, you are liable for call-out under the Reserve Forces Act 1996. If you are mobilised, your regular job will be legally protected and you and your employer both have the right to seek exemption or deferral under certain circumstances.

What is the reward?
You’ll be paid at an equivalent rate of pay to that of the Regular Army, receive travel expenses and be entitled to a tax-free annual bounty if you achieve the required standards.

Officer Training
Training to become an Officer in the Army Reserves is a challenge quite unlike anything you are likely to encounter in civilian life.

If you have an appetite for responsibility and a basic ability to lead and motivate others, then becoming an Army Reserve Officer could be one of the best decisions you will make in your adult life. Without the leadership of its Officers the Army Reserves would not be able to play the significant role that it does within the British Army.

The benefits are considerable:

Be a vital part of the British Army.

Receive world class training, including the Army Reserves Commissioning Course at Sandhurst.